Surface condenser for turbines.



PATENTED FEB. 26

W. L. R. EMMHT. SURFACE CONDENSER FOR TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14,1903.

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lJkIJuIUJLlJUJl-UUJLIJLLLLIJLLLUJ Inventor:- William LJLEmmeG lJJI P ATENTED FEB. 26, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor [William LR;

by v I W. L. R. EMMET. SURFACE CONDENSER FOR TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14,1903.

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Witness-6S D PATENTED FEB. 26,1907. w. L. R. EMMET. SURFACE CONDENSER FOR TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14,1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

oeooeoooo o o o o o o 0 o o" a Q o ooooeooepoe o Inventor William L.R.Emmet Witnesses:

No. 845,294. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1907.

W; L. RfBMMET.

SURFACE CONDENSER FOR TURBINES.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.14,1903.

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Inventory Wi'H iam Lfifllnmeb UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

'WILLIAM L. REMMET, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR To GEN- ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF'NEWYORK.

SURFACE CONDENSER FOFI TURB INES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2 6, 1907.

' Application filed September 14. 1903. Serial No. 178,027.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. R. EM- MET, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Surface Condensers for Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

' This inventionrelates to surface condenswhich the steam or other motive fluid exhausts and from which it is led away b suitable piping to a separate condenser. utiljze' this base as a condenser, housing therein a plurality of tubes through which a cooling medium, such as water, can be forced, and making suitable connections for the watersupply, air-pumps, and the like. In large machines the base may be divided into halves in the plane of the axis of the shaft. In each half is arranged a bank of tubes, suitably supported in tube-sheets,each of which forms.

one wall of a chamber adjacent thereto. The chambers at one end of the machine are connected, While those at the other end form the inlet and the outlet for the condensing water.

. As the tubes are horizontal and the exhaust .bodying my invention.

from the buckets of the turbine comes down vertically; the steam has excellent distribution among the tubes. In order to equalize the work, a bathe-plate is introduced above a'portion of the tubes which carry the incoming colder water, so that the greater portion of the steam will be at first thrown over among the tubes through which the warmer water is outflowing and will then return under the baffle-plate to the colder tubes.

Other details ofconstruction will be here'-' inafter described, and

particularly pointed out in-the claims. a

and partly in section, of a condenser emsection on the plane of division between the halves of the condenser. Fig. 4 is an end view, partly broken away, and with doors or 'ceive fastening-bolts.

Fig. 3 is a cross-' giew of one of the castings forming half the 'ase.

The type of steam-turbine engine towhich the invention is applied is immaterial. In

the drawings a turbine of the Curtis type is shown, having a vertical shaft 1, Fig. 3, on

stationary intermediate buckets 4, supported which is secured the horizontal bucket-wheel 2, whose peripheral buckets 3 cooperate with on the'inside of a section 5 of the casing.

Just'above the wheel is a stationary diaphragm 6, containing nozzles 7 for delivering the steam or other elastic fluid to the buckets. The joint between the diaphragm and the shaft or hub of the wheel is provided with casting, one of which is shown in Fig. 5, has 'a substantially rectangular box-like body 9,

having a large semicircular opening in its top to register with one-half of the bottom of This may be cast in one the wheel-casing of section 5. The bottom of I each castingis strengthened by flanged ribs 10-, Fig. 2, radiating from the axis of the sh aft.

Holes 11, Fig. 4, are formed in the outer circular wall between said ribs, so that when the castings are set on a suitablelcircular foundation grouting can be run in through said holes, filling the spaces between the ribs and securely anchoring the machine to its foundation. An vescape-pipe 12 is coredthrough an enlargement of one of the ribs to convey the water of condensation to the hotwell.

The meeting faces of the two bodies 9 are -open, so that said-bodies-combine to form a single steam-chamber. The edges of the two bodies register and have flanges 13 to re- It will be seen that the vertical flanges 13 also act as standards or supports to sustain the Weight of the wheel casing and parts at the points nudway between the side walls of the base. Without these flangesrortheir equivalent there would be a tendency for the upper part of the base to sag when the casing was mounted in place. In the middle and lower part-of eachmeeting face is cast a reentrant roomy recess 14, in the lower part of which is a support 15, in-

. when necessary it can be dropped down and removed. Openings 17 at each end of the recess give access thereto, the space being large enough for a workman to enter. At

.the point where the shaft passes up through the top of the recess it is surrounded by packing-rings held in place by an annular support 18,.secured bybolts 19 to some surround ing stationary portion of the machine, such .as a depending flange 20 on a heavy plate 21,

which surrounds the shaft and rests on the top of the recess, said tops and the under surfaceofthe plate, being .faced off to make a tight joint,

The ends of: the bodies 9 are closed by tube-sheets 22, in which are held the ends of a plurality of parallel tubes 23 running lengthwise of said bodies. Fastened to each end of each body is a cap or cover, the caps 24 at one end communicating, preferably by having open registering sides, so as to form a continuous passage connecting the ends of the tubes in one body with the adjacent ends of the tubes in the other body. At the opposite ends the caps 25 areseparate, each having on one side a flanged neck 26, one serving as the inlet and the other as the outlet for the condensing water. These caps are preferably provided with hinged lids or doors 27,. giving access to all the tubes for purposes of inspection, cleaning, and repair. In order .to prevent the tubes from sagging, an intermediate tube-sheet 28, Fig. 1, is provided,

resting on suitable supports 29, Fig 4, which give free circulation of the water of con- 'd ensation collecting on. the bottom of the condenser.

" In order to equalize the opera'tion, a baffleplate is introduced above a portion of the set of tubes through which the condensing water first flows. This plate 30, Figs. 2 and 4, eX- tends inwardly to and beyond the meeting plane of the two bodies 9 and on a level just elow the upper five or six rows of tubes. The steam in this half of the condenser is thus prevented from coming in contact with all of the colder tubes, but is deflected to the other side, where it passes down among the warmer set of tubes and then returns under plate 30 to the top of the recess and preventing thesteam from returning without first passing down through the warmer set of tubes.

nection' 32 for the attachment of an airpump. There is also provided an exhaustport 33, normally closed by a cap or plug 34, but providing forthc escape of steam when the engine is to berun non-condensing.

The clearance between the moving and stationary buckets 3 and 4 is about three one-hundredths of an inch. In order to support the wheel in its proper plane when the step-bearing is removed, I provide 'an' annular table or chock 35, concentric with the shaft and resting on the plate 21, with its upper surface close to the wheel. The chock has means for lifting it, preferably constructed as follows: Corresponding transverse grooves are cut in the plate and chock, and 1n each groove is a wedge 36, into which is tapped a screw-threaded rod 37, rotatable in bearings in the end of the cap and in an upright plate 38, standing at the end of the recess 14 and secured to the under side of the baffle-plate.

The rod has a squared end by means of which it can be rotated by a suitable Wrench in order to run the wedge in or out, as desired.

By forcing the wedges in the chock will be lifted into close contact with the wheel, so

. that the latter will be firmly supported, and

the step-bearing can then be removed. When it has been replaced, the wedges are backed out, so that the chock drops asmall fraction of an inch;say .one one-hundredth. Then, if the oil or other lubricant pressure inthe step-bearing fails, or if for any other reason the shaft settles, so that the buckets'would be endangered if the settling continued, the chock will catch the wheel before the dangerpoint is reached and -by the sound of its grihding will give warning of what is happening, so that the engine can be shut down before any damage is done.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. i

'IVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base comprising a rectangular box-like structure having a step-bearing 1n 1ts lower part a circular tubes located within said structure and below the opening.

2. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base comprising a rectangular box-like structure having a sterrbearing in its lower part a circular opening in the top,. a wheel casing mounted on top of, the said structure and discharging into the opening, and condenser-tubes located within the structure and below the p opening and arranged in two parallel sets. On each body 9 is cast a flanged pipe con-' In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base con- "opening in the top, and sets of condensertaining sets-of condenser-tubes with a. stepbearing between said sets. p

4. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base provided with a step-bearing, and condensertubes arranged on opposite sides of said bearmg. v

'5. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base made up of separate portions eachcontaining con-v denser-tubes, and a bearing fortheshaft which is supported by and Within the sepa.

rate portions of the'base. i I v 6. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base comprising hollow bodies to receive the exhauststeam, a setv of condenser-tubes in each body,

and a shaft-bearing located in the base and extending into the hollow bodies between the 1 tubes in each, and a rentrant recess formed 1 -'1n their meeting faces, and a reentrant recess formed'partly in one section and partly in another.

'9. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base com-- posed of sections meeting on, the axial plane of the shaft and having a rentrantfrecess around the shaft.

-. 10. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base com posed of sections having a rentrant recess posed of sections having a reentrant recess around the shaft, and a step-bearing support in Saldrecess. p

1 I. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base com around the shaft, and a step-bearing support 1 ing which is located midway "between the and supports ried by the parts of'the recess.

cess beingonen, and having inlit's top a semi in said recess integral with said sections.

12. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a section for a base, consisting of a boX-likebodyhaving a semicircular opening in its top, an open side containing a rentrant recess, and a stepbearing support in said'recess.

13. In*a turbine, the combination of a base having a rentrant recess formed therein, a wheel-shaft, and a support forthe wheelshaft that is carried by the wall of. the recess. 14. In a turbine, the combination of a base having a rentrant recess, a wheel-shaft, a bearing therefor, and a support for the bearends of and is carried by the wall of said re cess.

therein, a vertical shaft, I a bearing. therefor,

for the bearing which' a're car- 1.6. In inelastic-fluid turbine, a section for one-half of the. base, com rising a box one side open, avlng amen-- the tubes.

, rigid sutpport adjacent to sai 15. In a turbine, the combination. of a base having a divided rentrant recess formed circular opening whose diameter coincides with theopen'side of said body and recess.

-' 17. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a condenserbase comprising sections having tubes run-.

ning lengthwise thereof,.caps on said sections covering-the ends of said tubes, and a ren:

trant support which-with the shaft divides the tubesinto sections.

- 18. "In an elastic-fluid turbine, a condenser-1' base comprising sectloiis having tubes running lengthwise thereof, caps connecting said sections atone side, separate caps at the other *e ndforming the inlet and outlet for the condensing watery-ands. bafie-plate for directing the passage of the exhaust against 19. In an elastic-fluid turbine, acondenserbase OOYEPIlSlIlg sections containing tubes,

connectedcaps at one end of said sections, separate caps at the other end, and hinged lids for said separate caps.

20. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base comosed of duplicate sections, a setof tubes or each section, thesets being arrangedin parallel relation, and a bearing-support, one

alf of. which is carried by one section and theother half by the remaining section. 21. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base comprising similar halves meeting on the axial plane of the shaft, each half having an inset.

22. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base co'mprising sections eachhaving flanged ribs, on

its bottom and openings in its outer wall communicating with the spaces between said ribs.

23. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base containing condenser-tubes, and a bafide-plate for directing the inflowing exhaust.

24. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base con taining two sets of condenser-tubes, and a baffle-plate for directing the in fiowing exhaust motive fluid toward one set. 1

25. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a. base containing two sets of co'ndensentubes connected in series, and a baflie-plate causing the infiowing steam to pass first among the warmer tubes.

' 26. In a turbine,-the combination with an upright shaft, of a step-bearing therefor, and

means for supporting the shaft in its normal roo position when the step-bearing is to be re-,

moved.'

27. In a turbine, the combination with the shaft, of an element rotatin therewith, a I element, and means or bring' g said supnmj into operative contact with said element.

I 28. In a turbine, the combination with the bucket-wheel, of-a chock beneath said wheel,

and means for lifting said chock. into support ingrelat-ion to said wheel.

has

; 29. In a turbine, the combination with the i shaft and bucketwheel', of a chock-surrounding said shaft beneath said Wheel, and wedges for lifting saidchock.

30. In a turbine, the combination with a T upper surface and tube-receiving openings,

condenser-base, of a stationary grooved plate therein, a chock resting on said plate and having grooves therein, wedges in said grooves, said wedges and extending out through bear- Wheel rotatable just above said chock.

31. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base having a reentrant recess to receive a step-bearmg, and comlenser-tubes arranged on opposite sides of said recess.

32. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a base having a rentrant recess, a step-bearing support in said recess, and condenser-tubes arranged on opposite sides of said recess.

33. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination with a base having a reentrant recess in its botton, a step-bearing in said recess, a

shaft extending through said base into the cess.

34. In a vertical-shaft turbine, the combiscrew-threaded rods tapped into supports situated between. the openings to sustain the weight of the wheel-casing, and a wheelcasing n ounted on the top of the base.

35. In a tunline, the combination of an exhaust-receiving structure which is provided lngs'in the walls of the base, and a bucketnation of a chambered base having a finished with a circular opening and finished wall, supports to sustain thenvall at intermediate points, and. a wheel-casing engaging with the wall.

36. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination with a base having a reentrant recess in its bottom, a ste )-bearing in said recess, and a support which extends across the re- .cess, supports the bearing, cess to the parts the step-bearing inset.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my located between the end of and the under Wall of the ghand this 12th day of September, 1903. recess, and a packed joint at the point where the shaft passes from the base into said re- WILLIAM L. R. EMMET.

\Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD.

and permits ac' 

